The Prime Minister’s statement that he would support a federal relationship register has been welcomed by gay activists.

On Sunday, Kevin Rudd responded to reports that the Australian Labor Party was secretly planning to introduce civil unions by saying that a plan for a national relationship register for same-sex couples was the best option.

“A national relationships register is a positive and productive way to formally recognise same-sex relationships,” The Age reported Mr Rudd as saying.
However, concerns that Mr Rudd does not fully understand the legalities of the Tasmanian scheme have been highlighted by Tasmanian advocate Rodney Croome.

“Labor is misinformed about what the Tasmanian registry is for and how it works,” Mr Croome said in a media release on Sunday.

“It is commonly believed our registry certifies existing de facto relationships when it actually creates new legal unions in the same way as marriage, and provides these new unions with the same rights as married partners,” Mr Croome continued.

“I strongly advise mainland governments to find out what the Tasmanian scheme does and how it works before they say they want to be consistent with it.”

Mr Rudd reiterated that party policy had not changed, and that the government’s stance remained that marriage can only take place between members of the opposite sex.

“Our position has always been that marriage is between a man and a woman, and therefore that always will form the cornerstone of our view on these matters,” Mr Rudd concluded.

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